MG Historical Fiction/Adventure Review of Journey of the Pale Bear by Susan Fletcher

Journey of the Pale Bear by Susan Fletcher

Format:  ARC paperback

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Number of Pages: 192 

Publishing:  October 2nd, 2018 

Source:  Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Opening Line: "In the evening, as darkness falls, I return to the fortress."

The events of the story begin in the Spring of 1252 in Bergen, Norway.  Starving and desperate for food, a young boy steals a leg of rabbit off of a plate in a pub.  When the man notices his meal is missing, he chases Arthur into the city streets where he accidentally flees into a cage housing a great polar bear.  Arthur is saved by a Doctor who recognizes that the boy seems to have a way with the polar bear.  The two come to an arrangement, Arthur will travel with the Doctor aboard the Queen Margrette and tend to the bear and in return, the Doctor will help him locate his relatives in Wales.  As they set sail, Arthur learns that the bear is to be a gift from the King of Norway to the King of England.  It isn't long before such valuable cargo draws the attention of pirates and soon they are left defending off an attack.  Their journey is further complicated when a violent storm hits the ship.  Thinking they're in danger of being submerged, Arthur jumps overboard with the polar bear.  It isn't long until the sailors are able to recapture the bear and they are forced to bring Arthur back to the ship to ensure the bear is able to stay calmly in her cage.  Once the ship arrives in Britain, the bear is transferred to the Tower of London, and Arthur is able to have a letter he's been carrying with him from his relatives translated.  Arthur finds that his father's family does not want him.  Then news comes that the bear's health has been diminishing under the care of the keeper of the King's Menagerie.  Arthur is faced with the choice of returning to Bergen or helping determine what is ailing the bear.  

Journey of the Pale Bear is a beautiful story of a real polar bear that lived in the Tower of London and the fictional boy who went on the voyage with him from Norway to his new home.  I loved how the action starts off quickly and the short chapters lend themselves to be read aloud.  There are lovely descriptions of life at sea, with all the historical details and perils that one would expect.  My favorite parts are of Arthur taking care of a 1000+ lb polar bear aboard the ship, what to feed her and how to get rid of all of the excrement.  I can only imagine.  I really liked Arthur, he has such a love and passion for making sure that the the polar bear is safe.  His fear of going into the cage is realistic and even his being conflicted about his feelings toward the Doctor seemed authentic.  Especially when he refers to Arthur as "son," meaning it more as a term of endearment.  Arthur had every right to be mad at the doctor for all of the things that he demanded of him.   Arthur said it best, "The doctor had ordered me to go on deck alone with the bear.  I could have been killed.  A man wouldn't do that to his son."   A wonderful story that reflects the bonds that animals and humans can share.